Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

The Western Boone high school cross country team opened its season on Saturday morning at the Jeremy Wright Memorial Small School Invitational in Shelbyville. Runners from 1A and 2A schools competed in the 5 km race. The Lady Stars started their season strongly with a third-place team finish. They earned 127 points behind winner Forest Park's 95 points and runner-up Centerville's 118 points. There were 18 complete teams and 40 total teams represented in the girls race. Running in a field of 182 girls, Katheryn Rutherford and Hannah Haag ran together near the front for most of the race and finished in 9th (21:23.6) and 12th (21:31.3), respectively. Bailey Haag was next for the team in 30th in 23:21.7. Charlotte Stucky and Samantha Jones ran with or near each other for most of the race as well, and both earned top-50 finishes in 47th (24:15.7) and 49th (24:24.4), respectively. Rounding out the varsity team were Emily Parsons in 73rd and Janelle Gearheart in 125th. Every returning varsity runner ran faster than they did at this meet last year. Kate Higer (128th), Bailey Keyes (154th), Rosie Rogers (155th), Carli Hanna (170th), and Katherine Mateika also ran for the Lady Stars. Hanna was faster by more than 4:40 compared to this meet last year. In the boys race, the Stars were 19th out of 28 complete teams and 43 total teams. Running his first 5 km race and in a field of 282 boys, freshman Isaac Threlkeld led the way for the team with an 87th-place finish in 20:23.3. Carter Hanna was next for the team in 100th in 20:39.1, followed by Luke LaGrange just six seconds later in 104th in 20:45.5. Graham Cavins was 125th (21:15.2), and Lane Hardee was 168th (22:30.7). Alex Crockett (187th) and Levi LaGrange (224th) rounded out the varsity team. Brayden Schick (236th) also ran for the Stars. Hanna and Cavins were both faster compared to their times at this meet last year. The Stars will compete on Tuesday at the Harrison 9-Way Meet in Lafayette. Photo compliments of Rebecca LaGrange Check out the photo Gallery at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KoGmbLq8nirt7V2UA